Question 1: • Several companies use their brand as a competitive advantage. Given your knowledge about the global economy, identify three brands you believe have the strongest likelihood of remaining a source of advantage in the 21st Century and explain why.

• Explain the effects you believe the Internet's capabilities will have on the brands you identified in the previous discussion and what the owner of the brand should do in light of them.

Question 2: • Use the Internet to research Apple's strategy for competing against other technology companies. determine how market commonality and resource similarity impact Apple's competitive standing in terms of its main rivals. Provide specific examples to support your response.

• Determine what additional steps Apple's competitors are likely to take and how Apple will most likely respond. Explain your rationale.